The Summit of Shadows
The ride to the Palais de L’Éclipse was quiet—too quiet.
Not the silence of peace, but of calculation. Of loaded weapons and breaths held between storms.
I sat in the armored SUV next to Cassian, the leather folder clutched to my chest like a second spine. Across from us, Aiven studied the cityscape as we approached the towering fortress masquerading as a historic museum. There was no press. No onlookers. Just power—old, veined, and hidden beneath marble and chandeliers.
“You sure they’ll let us through?” I asked, eyes flicking to Nyra in the front seat.
She didn’t look back. “Dominic pulled strings that don’t unravel easily. "We’ll get in. "The real question is—will we get out the same way?”
Cassian turned his head toward me. “No,” he said quietly. “We’re not l
